User controlled multi-device media-on-demand system

Abstract

A method for providing configurable access to media in a media-on-demand system also can include delivering the media to a first client device in a format compatible with the first client device; interrupting the delivery of the media; recording a bookmark specifying a position in the media where the interruption occurred; and resuming delivery of the media to a second client device, the resumed delivery beginning at a position in the media specified by the recorded bookmark. The method further can include identifying device properties for each of the first and second client devices; delivering the media to the first client device in a format compatible with the identified device properties for the first client device; and, delivering the media to the second client device in a format compatible with the identified device properties for the second client device.

1 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method of providing media from a media server, comprising:
 receiving a request from a first device for media stored at a media server;   identifying configuration information for the first device; and   delivering the requested media to the first device in a format compatible with the first device based on the configuration information.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 storing media at the media server in a plurality of formats; and   identifying one of the plurality of formats for delivery to the first device based on the configuration information for the first device.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 storing media at the media server in a single default format; and   converting the stored media from the default format to a format compatible with the first device based on the configuration information for the first device.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein identifying configuration information for the first device comprises:
 querying the first device for configuration information; and   receiving configuration information from the first device.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the request received from the first device includes a device type, and identifying configuration information comprises identifying the configuration information based on the received device type. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein identifying configuration information comprises acquiring the configuration information from a database of device configuration data. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the request from the first device is received at the media server. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the request from the first device is received at an intermediate server that mediates transaction between the first device and the media server. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the format of the delivered media is one of MPEG1, MPEG2, Digital Video Broadcast, and Quicktime formats. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 receiving a request from a second device for media stored at the media server;   identifying configuration information for the second device; and   delivering the requested media to the second device in a format compatible with the second device based on the configuration information for the second device;   wherein the format of the media delivered to the second device is different than the format of the media delivered to the first device.   
     
     
         38 . A system for providing media from a media server, comprising:
 a server configured to:
 receive a request from a first device for media stored at a media server; 
 identify configuration information for the first device; and 
 deliver the requested media to the first device in a format compatible with the first device based on the configuration information. 
   
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein media is stored at the media server in a plurality of formats, and the server is further configured to identify one of the plurality of formats for delivery to the first device based on the configuration information for the first device. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein media is stored at the media server in a single default format, and the server is further configured to convert the stored media from the default format to a format compatible with the first device based on the configuration information for the first device. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the server is further configured to:
 query the first device for configuration information; and   receive configuration information from the first device.   
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the request received from the first device includes a device type, and the server is configured to identify the configuration information based on the received device type. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the server is configured to identify the configuration information by acquiring the information from a database of device configuration data. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the server is the media server at which the media is stored. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the server is an intermediate server that mediates transaction between the first device and the media server. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the format of the delivered media is one of MPEG1, MPEG2, Digital Video Broadcast, and Quicktime formats. 
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the server is further configured to:
 receive a request from a second device for media stored at the media server;   identify configuration information for the second device; and   deliver the requested media to the second device in a format compatible with the second device based on the configuration information for the second device;
 wherein the format of the media delivered to the second device is different than the format of the media delivered to the first device.